Returnless
I empowered webshops to get started on their own.
Returnless is a SaaS platform that helps e-com businesses automate their return process. For nine months, I improved the UX and reduced support’s workload by making the product more self-serve.
Challenges
- There was too much design debt to fix alone. I had to be pragmatic, operate at the right altitude, and accept compromise.
- Returnless never had a designer in the company before. I worked closely with the team and guided them through the process.
Impact
- Tenants go live ~40% faster thanks to the new onboarding flow.
- Increased clarity and consistency throughout the product.
- Supported exploration of new ideas with interactive prototypes.
- Streamlined design process by setting up a design system in Figma.
Equippo
I made buying and selling used heavy equipment easier.
As Equippo’s sole product designer for over four years, I helped greatly improve both the marketplace and internal tools teams rely on. My work focused on making the products and workflows clearer, faster, and safer.
Challenges
- Equippo struggled with UIs and with people and their workflows. I had to go beyond designing just for screen to streamline things.
- Tech debt made it hard to implement designs. I either worked within the constraints, or fixed issues on the front-end myself.
- Talking to customers was difficult. I relied soley on being close with customer-facing teams and on session recordings and data.
- The company lacked a modern product mindset early on. I had to take initiative, share explorations, and continually find ways to evangelise.
Impact
- A ~300% increase in buyer conversions by improving key funnels.
- Up to 11× boost in company efficiency through better workflows, automations, and tools.
- Led marketplace redesign resulting in a smoother buying experience and pages loading 2× faster.
- Reduced time to ship by 50%+ by designing in code and smart use of reusable components.
- Helped scope and launch V1.0 of two SaaS products with landing pages in a few weeks.
- Increased customer trust with an identity refresh and by introducing Buy Now, Pay Later.
Strakzat
I secured ongoing work for the client and me.
A local product design studio needed help with a few client projects. Jasper (co-founder) led strategy, user research, and kick-offs. All design work, client updates, and deliverables were on me. I worked within Strakzat’s style, while honoring each client’s brand and goals.
Challenges
- I was unable to work closley with the clients. So I embraced the ambiguity and often explored many options.
- All projects had tight dealines. I had to balance craft with speed and know when to ask for input.
Impact
- Two out of three clients agreed to rehire Strakzat in the future, one hired me directly soon after.
- Provided Returnless with recommendations on how to improve their return status page for consumers.
- Laid the foundation for GRIB 3 with a new design system and scalable, AI-ready application architecture.
- Redesigned BuitenBeter’s website, bringing their updated mobile app branding and flows to the web.
“ Working with Mark was a pleasure. He’s organised, efficient, and consistently delivers high-quality work. He ensures his solutions are strategically sound, and has a strong technical understanding of UX/UI implementation.”
Jasper den Ouden
Product Strategy, UX & Co-founder
“ Mark was far more than just ‘the designer’, he was a true partner in building products, consistently elevating the quality and pace of our work. He not only crafts great experiences but also ensures they get built the right way.”
Jelle Spekken
Head of Technology
“ Mark helped us set up a professional product team. He has an eye for detail, is thoughtful and very critical. What I found remarkable was how he kept both the business and user needs in consideration with every decision.”
Vijay Durán Jiménez
CEO & Product Owner
“ Mark’s designs were always backed up by data and impactful for both our customers and the company. His broad range of skills, from product strategy to development, make him a force multiplier for any product team.”
Doménico Schwalb
Chief Product Officer